Batna, city, northeastern Algeria, capital of Batna Province. The commercial center for the surrounding agricultural region, it is linked by railroad with the Mediterranean port of Annaba. Cedar forests are located to the west on the slopes of Mount Tougar (Touggour). Nearby are the Roman ruins of Timgad and Lambaesis. Batna was founded as a French military fortress in the 1840s. Population (1987) 181,601.
